Jessie Rae Scott
Encyclopedia
Jessie Rae Scott was the First Lady
of North Carolina
from 1969 to 1973 and the widow
of former North Carolina Governor Robert W. Scott
.
Scott unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for North Carolina's labor commissioner in 1976 and served as the state coordinator for Jimmy Carter
presidential campaign. She also acted as the chief lobbyist for North Carolina's Equal Rights Amendment for women.
, to Albert and Rosa Lee Osbourne. She received a bachelor's degree from Greensboro Women's College, which is now part of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
.
Scott married her husband, Robert W. Scott, in 1951. The two had met in third grade and began dating in high school.
. The American Cancer Society honored her with its Sword of Hope award that same year and granted her honorary life membership in the organization in 1995.
Jessie Rae Scott died at the Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, North Carolina
, on December 26, 2010, at the age of 81. She had been hospitalized since July 2010 due to complications from a fall. Her funeral was held at the Hawfields Presbyterian Church in Mebane, North Carolina
.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1969 to 1973 and the widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
of former North Carolina Governor Robert W. Scott
Robert W. Scott
Robert Walter "Bob" Scott was the 67th Governor of the state of North Carolina from 1969 to 1973. He was born in Haw River, North Carolina.The son of North Carolina Governor W...
.
Scott unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for North Carolina's labor commissioner in 1976 and served as the state coordinator for Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
presidential campaign. She also acted as the chief lobbyist for North Carolina's Equal Rights Amendment for women.
Early life
Scott was born Jessie Rae Osborne in Swepsonville, North CarolinaSwepsonville, North Carolina
Swepsonville is a town in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, to Albert and Rosa Lee Osbourne. She received a bachelor's degree from Greensboro Women's College, which is now part of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro , also known as UNC Greensboro, is a public university in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States and is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system. The university offers more than 100 undergraduate, 61 master's and 26...
.
Scott married her husband, Robert W. Scott, in 1951. The two had met in third grade and began dating in high school.
Later life
In 1982, Scott became the chairwoman of the North Carolina chapter of the American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
. The American Cancer Society honored her with its Sword of Hope award that same year and granted her honorary life membership in the organization in 1995.
Jessie Rae Scott died at the Hillcrest Convalescent Center in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, on December 26, 2010, at the age of 81. She had been hospitalized since July 2010 due to complications from a fall. Her funeral was held at the Hawfields Presbyterian Church in Mebane, North Carolina
Mebane, North Carolina
Mebane is a city located mostly in Alamance County, North Carolina, United States, with a part of it in Orange County, North Carolina. It is part of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The current population estimate is 10,624. According to the , the town was named for...
.